Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends is probably not Coldplay's best album, but it doesn't really have to be. As usual the band has produced a number of ingenious anthems which have made it into my weekly playlist. Having said that, the song which takes its name from the title and has been played around the iTunes advertisements has some interesting lyrics which, it seems to me, deserve further comment. 

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I finally got a chance to watch this film this weekend with my wife, and we both agreed the soundtrack was a must download as well. The film is simple, quirky, moving, but mostly just frickin' beautiful.

On one level it captures the heartache of lost love. The two main characters aren't bitter so much as sorrow-ful as they come to terms with their own part in messy relationships. Their songs hope as much for places to fall apart as for a return to the people they love.

On another level though, Once explores the power of music to heal brokenness and to create that soundscape where human frailty can simply be as it is. Music isn't used to tape up the cracks in their hearts, but rather, to allow the pain to seep out of those cracks authentically and honestly. Music brings them to the truth they hide, and in that sense to healing. The songs they sing tell us stories through their content. But the singers tell us another story through their participation in the event of making music.

This film deserves all the praise it has received this year, and the soundtrack is just as brilliant.

Gulag Orkestar
Lon Gisland
Flying Club CupIt's like the coolest cornocopia band you've ever heard, with an eastern European twist. Really fun. Itunes page. 

Let It Die
Open Season
The ReminderFeist is the female third of the Kings of Convenience trio. Her solo efforts are no less soulful in an ethereal and often fun way. You may recognize a few of her more pop-ish songs from iPod adverts. Itunes store.